Tazza 1660 - 1675

This "Tazza," or stemmed dish, was made at the Glasshouse of the Duke of Buckingham using traditional glass-blowing techniques. Notice the subtle gray tone, and the imperfections within the glass itself. These give the Tazza a character that belies its aristocratic origins. The glassblowing process, demanding intense heat and skilled manipulation, often left tiny bubbles and variations in tone, each one evidence of the maker's touch. The form itself is simple, yet elegant. It speaks to the fashion for glassware that swept through Europe at this time. Buckingham’s glasshouse was an ambitious, yet ultimately unsuccessful attempt to establish glassmaking as a luxury trade in England. The Tazza represents this tension. It shows the aspiration toward refinement, but also the material realities of its production. By looking closely at the materials and processes, we can appreciate how this object bridges the gap between artistry, industry, and social ambition.